Episode 54: The Mart (1)Several dozen minutes later.
The Doppelgangers who had followed Seo-ah returned empty-handed.
"She escaped?"
"We apologize... She suddenly vanished..."
A Doppelganger bowed their head.
Losing a single human with this many personnel.
A hundred apologies wouldn't be enough.
"It's fine."
But the Captain let it slide.
Even though Sword Queen might come looking soon, he remained composed.
"The original plan was to take that bitch's daughter hostage to lure out Sword Queen, but since that failed... We'll change tactics."
He rose from his seat.
Showing no hint of regret.
Pulling his sword from where it was embedded in the ground.
"We need to divert Sword Queen's attention. Summon every available operative. Gather them at the location I specify."
They had to minimize any chance of the descent ritual failing.
Sword Queen was a monster whose true power remained unknown.
She might even possess a way to forcibly open Dimensional Gates.
Though their God would never lose to a mere human,
with Sword Queen being that monster... their incomplete God might actually lose.
"Understood."
A Doppelganger pulled out their phone.
After some time passed.
The prepared group descended the mountain.
Their destination: the city's bustling downtown.
Perhaps because it was nearly weekend, the streets were packed with people.
* * * *
"Today's your first real mission! Everyone stay sharp!"
Isia shouted.
As she'd mentioned before, this was an easy Dimensional Gate from her perspective,
but anything could happen inside.
She infused her voice with authority to instill proper tension.
'I hope this ends quickly...'
Contrary to her expectations, Seol-hwa couldn't focus properly.
Her body felt restless.
It had been too long since Master last touched her.
The thought of that bitch receiving Master's affection in abundance while she was stuck here made her grind her teeth.
"Alright, moving in!"
At Isia's signal.
The guild members entered the Dimensional Gate.
"Let's finish this quickly and go home."
Thinking of Master welcoming her return, Seol-hwa mustered her strength.
As Seol-hwa touched the Dimensional Gate.
Her body vanished into the massive doorway.
* * * *
"Hm?"
Meanwhile, Sword Queen rose at her intuition's warning.
Twenty years ago.
The same sensation she'd felt right before the incident that made her Sword Queen.
A feeling she hadn't experienced since.
The incident that caused South Korea's highest civilian casualties.
When her most trusted comrade betrayed them.
"Mobilize all guild members. Contact the Military for emergency standby."
She ordered her secretary.
Though startled by the abrupt command, the secretary treated her words as absolute.
Composing herself, she left to make the calls.
"Please let this just be a false alarm..."
She bit her nails.
Praying the unease would prove unfounded.
But her ominous premonition proved accurate.
"Guild Master! You need to see this!"
The secretary thrust forward a tablet.
[Breaking News! Massacre at mart! Perpetrator identified as Sword Queen's missing former comrade.]
Her former comrade, reappearing after twenty years, dominated news headlines.
"The Military sent their gratitude. They said your warning allowed swift mobilization."
The secretary looked up at Sword Queen with reverent eyes.
'No. This can't be all there is.'
But Sword Queen couldn't smile.
The uneasy feeling still hadn't dissipated.
"Prepare my car."
"Yes? Ah, of course you'd take charge personally."
The secretary's eyes sparkled anticipating Sword Queen's heroics.
"Right... I'll handle it. But... leave the mart to the Police. Call the Special Forces."
This was her former comrade's doing.
Though he'd become a monster, the public didn't know.
Personal involvement was necessary to save face.
"Huh? The Police? Not the Military?"
The secretary was shocked.
First ordering Military mobilization, now calling the Police.
The contradictory commands confused her.
"Correct. Redirect the Military here."
Sword Queen pointed at a map.
The location was the Dimensional Gate Isia's guild had entered.
* * * * *
"We've come this far... should be safe now."
Seo-ah wiped sweat from her brow.
Surrounded by crowds.
As a parasitic species needing to hide,
crowded areas made operations difficult.
"Just in case. Let's avoid returning home for now."
I worried she might choose to go home anyway.
Encountering Sword Queen would be the worst outcome.
"Alright. We can stay at a nearby hotel."
Fortunately, Seo-ah understood my concerns.
"I know a hotel. Let's go there."
A suitable place came to mind.
A hotel directly operated by our Kin society.
If they had intelligence, they wouldn't attack a Kin-operated hotel.
I told Seo-ah the hotel's name.
"That hotel? Not bad, but..."
Seo-ah looked doubtful upon hearing the name.
Outwardly just an ordinary upscale hotel.
But my recommendation made her suspicious.
I sweet-talked to persuade her.
Just as she was nearly convinced,
something pinged my senses.
Doppelgangers.
I immediately turned my head.
A group of about ten was entering a building.
"Go in there."
I pointed where the Doppelgangers entered.
"The mart? If you want snacks, I'll buy them."
Seo-ah looked puzzled seeing the mart building.
Of course, my reason wasn't hunger.
"Doppelgangers are gathering there."
More Doppelgangers kept entering the mart.
People didn't notice the monsters wearing human skins.
They appeared completely ordinary.
"...Understood. Let's go in."
Grasping the severity, Seo-ah complied without argument.
We entered the mart.
The weekend's final hours.
Shoppers packed the building wall-to-wall.
Doppelgangers peppered the crowd.
Spread throughout the entire building.
I mentally mapped their positions.
Blocking exits and encircling humans.
'Could it be? Planning a massacre?'
The worst-case scenario occurred to me.
Sealing exits and hunting trapped humans.
Though unclear why creatures who hid for so long would suddenly act,
if true, a tragedy would unfold.
'How to use this? No, what's their goal?'
But this didn't concern me.
People dying?
I'd kill them myself if they became obstacles.
Regrettable, but unavoidable collateral damage.
While cannibalism disgusted me, deaths didn't bother me much.
The real question was their sudden motive.
"Go into the restroom."
I directed Seo-ah to the restroom.
No better place to hide temporarily.
Click.
I locked the restroom door.
"What's this about?"
I explained my suspicions.
"What? Then we must stop them!"
Seo-ah recoiled in horror.
A natural reaction.
Any normal person would panic at impending deaths.
But not me.
"We can't just watch people die!"
But Seo-ah remained adamant.
Despite lacking morals, she retained enough conscience to vehemently oppose me.
"Would the NIS or Police believe us? We lost the bodycam while escaping."
No viable options remained.
Unlikely they'd believe an anonymous tip without evidence.
And by then, it'd be too late.
Better to learn their purpose.
"Don't worry, Seo-ah. It'll all be over when you wake up."
Unexpectedly,
I abandoned persuasion against her stubborn resistance.
"Wait... what are you-!"
I summoned my body.
Grabbed Seo-ah.
Pinned her against the restroom wall.
A secluded restroom in the building.
Few visitors.
None would come during the impending tragedy.
"Not here. Stop... hngk!"
I proceeded without restraint.
Formed thick tentacles and thrust into her pussy.
Veiny tentacles squirmed deep inside her.
Squelch. Hngk. Stop.
I was wrong...
I'll do as you say!
Stop!...Nghhh...there...
Moans leaked outside.
But no one came.
I drove into her until she lost consciousness.
Though reduced to a moaning doll, my excitement kept me going.
"Gyaaaaaah!"
"Seems it's started."
When screams echoed outside, I stopped.
It began.
Agonized shrieks reached us.
Initially isolated screams multiplied over time.
"Seo-ah, time to work."
"Hiiiiiiii..."
No response came.
Unconcerned, I began parasitizing her.
"Let's go."
We exited the restroom.
The peaceful mart had become hell.
Squelch.
I stepped through blood puddles.
My destination: the control room.
Filled with CCTV monitors.
"Don't need these."
Crunch.
Smashed the equipment.
Destroyed everything to leave no records.
"Now we wait?"
I sat back comfortably, awaiting my moment.
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